‘B-BBEE a national imperative’

Neutral groupage operator
CFR Freight has obtained
level 3 Broadbased Black
Economic Empowerment
(B-BBEE) status.
“B-BBEE is a key priority
for the company,” group
CEO Peter Schmidt-Löffler
told FTW. “While it is both
a business and national
economic imperative, our
group realises the need to
develop and transform. This
will allow more people the
opportunity to access our
industry – and, in turn, will
allow us to realise what our
part is in ensuring economic
growth in our country.”
According to Laraine
Hurst, CFR human
resources manager, B-BBEE
has posed challenges to
many companies, CFR
included, of which cost and
the amount of hours that
are required to keep current
with all BBBEE affairs is at
the top of the list.
“The journey to achieving
respectable B-BBEE levels is
not easy, but the importance
of transformation remains at
the heart of it. The process
has also identified many
opportunities for us,” she
said. “Our current rating
was done under the old
codes. The group however
aligned its transformation
plan in accordance with
the requirements of the
“Amended Codes” which
were implemented more
than 12 months ago. We
find the increased targets
challenging, but also know
that transformation needs
more focus.”
According to Schmidt-
Löffler, by focusing on what
the company can change
they are able to create lifetransforming
opportunities
for others through skills
transfer, equity sharing and
preferential procurement.